2004 SCORE Manufacturer Points
Jimco leads SCORE Original Buggy Chassis, FAT Performance
Takes over lead in SCORE Engine Builder point standings
Second is Fraley in Chassis and Major Performance in Engine,
Heading to 37th Tecate SCORE Baja 1000, Nov. 16-20

LOS ANGELES (October 1, 2004) -- Southern California’s Jimco Racing Products and FAT Performance Racing Engines continue to lead the SCORE Manufacturer Point Standings after four of five races in the 2004 SCORE Desert Series. Based near San Diego in Santee, Jimco has an overwhelming lead in the SCORE Original Buggy Chassis standings while FAT Performance, Orange, Calif., has assumed the lead in a much closer point race in the SCORE Engine Builder division.

Jimco, a leading chassis builder in the sport, has already seen its vehicles capture seven class wins, 12 seconds and eight thirds in the three SCORE races held so far in Laughlin, Nev., San Felipe, Mexico, Ensenada, Mexico and Primm, Nev.

FAT Performance, another long-time desert racing manufacturer, has built the engines for seven class winners, one runnerup and four third place finishers.

After the recent SCORE Las Vegas Primm 300 (Sept. 11), the world’s foremost desert racing series is now preparing to head back to Mexico, Nov. 16-20, for the 37th Annual Tecate SCORE Baja 1000, the legendary season finale that will be a Baja California peninsula run, starting in Ensenada and finishing in La Paz.

Using a point stystem for just the second time in the 31-year history of SCORE International for the 2004 SCORE Manufacturer Point Standings, Jimco also won last year’s point crowns in their division, while FAT Performance was second. Like the rest the annual SCORE Off-Roadsman Awards are still decided, the manufacturer awards were decided by vote of the SCORE membership until last year. Jimco has been voted SCORE Original Buggy Chassis manufacturer of the year nine times while FAT Performance was voted the SCORE Engine Builder of the year nine times as well.

The SCORE Manufacturer Point Standings are based on up to the top three finishers in the eligible SCORE classes at each race. The points given are the same position points given to the driver of record, which are based both on the final finishing position and number of vehicles that started the race within each class.

Jimco, a second-generation company run by racer Mike Julson, has 752 points so far, while a distant second is Las Vegas’ Fraley’s Performance Engineering with 203, 14 more than Southern California’s Dunrite chassis builders. Fourth with 73 points is Smithbuilt of Huntington Beach, Calif., while Mexico’s Garibay chassis is fifth with 60.

FAT Peformance, owned by industry veterans Greg Aaronson and Ron Fleming, has 309 points through four races, with Major Performance second with 289. In third place, with 272 points, is Leon Patton, while fourth is Las Vegas’ Kroyer Racing Engines with 113 and Mexico’s Jimenez Racing Engines completes the top five with 101.

Among the top SCORE drivers racing in Jimco open-wheel desert race cars this season have been Southern California’s John Marking (El Cajon), Mark McMillin (El Cajon) and Andy McMillin (Poway), , who are first, second and fourth in the unlimited Class 1 points; Steve Myers (Newport Beach, Calif.)., who leads Class 10 and Tom Watson (El Centro, Calif.), who is the current point leader in the SCORE Lite class.

Among the top SCORE drivers using FAT Performance engines this year have been Brian Jeffrey (Acton, Calif.) and Las Vegas’ Rob MacCachren, who both use FAT built VW engines in Class 1-2/1600, George Seeley (Glendale, Calif.) who uses a FAT built VW engine in Class 5, and Mark Kyle (Austin, Texas), who uses a FAT built VW engine in SCORE Lite.

Las Vegas’ Rob MacCachren in Class 1-2/1600 is the top Fraley-chassis racer with two wins so far, while SCORE Lite point leader Tom Watson (El Centro, Calif.) is the top Major driver, using a Major built VW racing engine in his Jimco race car.

The live drawing for starting positions, by class, for the upcoming 37th Tecate SCORE Baja 1000 will be held at 2:30 p.m. next Saturday (Oct. 9) on the Dust To Glory stage at the Off-Road Expo, being held next weekend at the Pomona Fairplex near Los Angeles. Festivities will include a vehicle display and a sneak preview of the upcoming documentary feature film ‘Dust to Glory,’ a tribute to the most legendary race in all of desert racing.

The 37th Annual Tecate SCORE Baja 1000 expects nearly 275 vehicles competing in 23 Pro and 5 Sportsman classes for cars, trucks, motorcycles and ATVs in Mexico.

The 1,017.31-mile race will run the length of the majestic Baja California peninsula. The popular event will feature the $40,000 Terrible’s Bonus purse, which includes a $20,000 bonus to the first overall 4-wheel vehicle.

The race will also culminate the chase for both the $10,000 Kartek Off-Road bonus and the $12,000 Toyota True-Grit and Toyota Milestone Awards.

The Kartek Off-Road bonus goes to the 2004 SCORE Overall point champion.

The prestigious Toyota Milestone Awards are presented to every racer who completes every required mile of every race in the 2004 SCORE Desert Series. The $12,000 Toyota True Grit purse is split among the SCORE season point champions who are also Toyota Milestone award winners in four non-factory-backed classes. This is the 18th consecutive year that Toyota Motor Sales, U.S.A. has teamed with SCORE to present these prestigious awards.

Pre-race festivities will be held around the Riviera del Pacifico Convention Center in Ensenada and the San Nicolas Hotel, on Tuesday and Wednesday, Nov. 16-17. The race will start on Thursday, Nov. 18, in front of the Riviera del Pacifico Convention Center with motorcycles and ATVs getting the green flag at approximately 6:30 a.m., followed by the car and truck classes at approximately 10:30 a.m. Vehicles will start one every 30 seconds in the elapsed-time race. The finish line will be on the outskirts of La Paz adjacent to the tourism office.

The post-race SCORE Survivor Award’s Celebration will be held Saturday afternoon in La Paz and is scheduled to be held at the Crowne Plaza Resort, adjacent to the official finish line of the race.

Pre-race festivities on Wednesday, Nov. 17, for the Tecate SCORE Baja 1000, including tech and contingency and the SCORE Manufacturer’s Midway will be held from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. across from the San Nicolas Hotel. The pre-race mandatory driver/rider briefing will be held Nov. 17 at 7 p.m. at the Riviera CC.

SCORE official sponsors for 2004 are: BFGoodrich Tires-official tire, Southern California Ford Dealers-official vehicle and C.L. Bryant-VP Racing Fuels-official fuel supplier. Associate sponsors are: Tecate Beer, Coca-Cola of Mexico, Instant Mexico Auto Insurance, Herbst Gaming, Kartek Off-Road, Fram, Autolite, Prestone, Bilstein, Signpros, P.C.I. Race Radios, McKenzie’s Performance Products, and Advanced Color Graphics.

For information contact:
SCORE International at its Los Angeles headquarters
(818) 225-8402 or visit
the official Optima SCORE Desert Series website at:
www.score-international.com

2004 SCORE Desert Series
Manufacturer Point Leaders
(After Round 4--Remaining 2004 schedule: Nov. 16-20--
37th Tecate SCORE Baja 1000-Ensenada to La Paz, Mexico)

SCORE Original Buggy Chassis
Manufacturer Point Standings
(Thru SCORE Las Vegas Primm 300-9/11/04)
Pos., Manufacturer, Points
1. Jimco - 752
2. Fraley - 203
3. Dunrite - 189
4. Porter - 76
5. Smithbuilt - 73
6. Garibay - 60
7. Baja Shop - 43
8. Chenowth - 56
9. Alumi Craft - 43
10. Lothringer - 32

SCORE Engine Builder
Point Standings
(thru SCORE Las Vegas Primm 300-9/11/04)
Pos. Builder, Points
1. FAT Performance – 309
2. Major Performance - 289
3. Patton – 272
4. Kroyer – 113
5. Jimenez – 101
6. Horne (HP) – 99
7. BMP - 76
8. Shavers – 73
8. Redline - 73
10. Wiks – 63

For information contact:
SCORE International at its Los Angeles headquarters
(818) 225-8402 or visit
the official Optima SCORE Desert Series website at:
www.score-international.com

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